[FORT] 12-30 Something about Mary

After I sent out the message, some parents informed me that most of the kids will be at a new years eve party that night. Since I was having trouble finding help anyway, we're going to cancel for this Friday (12-30) We'll resume next week, 1/6 at the normal time with the same topic.

God Bless -Fr Matt

Good Afternoon Folks!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Since we're in between Christmas and New Years, I thought it might be a good time to talk about the Christmas Stories. So this week, we'll be looking at some of our traditions about Christmas that aren't in the scriptures. Where do we get that image of St. Joseph holding a lilly? Why do we think Mary was so much younger than Joseph? Where do we get the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Ann? Where do we get the idea of the Immaculate Conception? It'll be a fun topic, but I think it's something good to talk about in the Christmas season. Depending on how things go, this could easily spill into next week.

Now the bad news....Our young adults who normally help, are having a new year's party on Friday, so most likely none of them will be able to help. That means that I need to find another adult to help (aka a parent). If your Mom/Dad would be able to stay this week, please let me know. Once I have someone I'll cross it out here, and shoot everyone a message letting you know that we have someone. Please check with me soon, I'm sure there's a parent that would be interested in the topic anyway.

In other news, There are still seats available for the March for Life. PLEASE get your forms in to me soon. I'll be setting another deadline in early January. This is open to ANYONE in 7th-12th grade. We have approximately 10 seats left. The only thing I ask is that if you're from a parish OTHER than OLV, please sign up with your parish to come along (I've spoken to all of the pastors, it should be in their bulletins) If you are non-Catholic and would like to come with us, you're welcome to sign up with us.

As for the Matt Maher Concert, I've gotten a few mixed responses. I think we'd be best to give you all the information and invite you to get the tickets yourselves if you would like to go. With the timing around the March, it's been difficult. I do ask though that if you ARE going, if you could let me know if you have any empty seats and/or if you'd like to go, but don't have a ride. I'll do my best to help pair people up with rides down. For more info on the concert, and for tickets, look here http://www.ajdiocese.org/sites/default/files/Matt%20Maher%20Flyer.pdf